[1][2][3] Arising from a sense of fair play, a meeting was held at the Victoria Road schoolroom in Tamworth on 13 November 1886, where it was proposed that "a co-operative society be formed in Tamworth".

The motion was unanimously carried and the society began trading from a modest rented cottage on 10 December.

[4] In 2021 the society announced plans to close its department store, with it being turned into a business centre and college.

[5] As a consumer co-operative the society is owned by its members, who are both customers and shareholders.

Through the co-operative principle of one member one vote the society is governed by a member-elected board of directors alongside annual general meetings.